Yellow azomethine dye developers

ABSTRACT

Novel yellow ortho, ortho&#39; dihydroxy azomethine dyes and metal complexes of such dyes which are particularly useful in photographic products and processes are presented by this invention. The novel yellow ortho, ortho&#39; dihydroxy azomethine dyes have the following structural formula: ##STR1## WHERE N&#39; IS THE INTEGER 1-8 AND M&#39; IS THE INTEGER 1 OR 2.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

This invention relates to novel, yellow ortho, ortho' dihydroxy azomethine dyes having a silver halide developing capability.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Yellow dyes having a silver halide developing capability, e.g., a silver halide developing substituent are known to the art. Such dyes, commonly referred to as "dye developers," are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. Nos. among others; 3,134,764; 3,135,604; 3,135,734, 3,141,772; 3,183,090; 3,309,199; 3,424,742, 3,597,200; 3,705,184 and 3,752,836. Of these patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,597,200; 3,705,184 and 3,752,836 particularly relate to ortho, ortho' dihydroxy azomethine dyes conforming to the following general formula: ##STR2## WHERE: A is a phenyl or naphthyl radical and B is a phenyl, naphthyl or heterocyclic radical and, as disclosed in those patents, the radicals of either the A or B moiety may contain a silver halide developing substituent. However, the particularly preferred embodiments of those patents are 1:1 chrome complexes of yellow, ortho, ortho' dihydroxy azomethines of Formula 1 with a substantially colorless ligand which is the moiety providing the silver halide developing substituent for the complexed dyes. Details relating to the preferred colorless ligands having a silver halide developing substituent can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,629,336. The particularly preferred 1:1 chrome complexed yellow azomethine dyes as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,597,200, 3,705,184 and 3,752,836 can be described by the following general formulae: ##STR3## WHERE: A and B are as defined before; L represents molecules that can satisfy the coordination sphere of chromium and can be H₂ O, (CH₃)₂ NHCO among others; X represents the atoms needed to complete an aliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic ring and these rings may contain a silver halide developing substituent; R and R' may be alkyl, fluoroalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, phenyl, phenylamino, etc; R² may be hydrogen, lower alkyl, phenyl or a radical comprising a silver halide developing substituent and R³ may be hydrogen, lower alkyl or a radical comprising a silver halide developing substituent or R³ may be hydroxyl but if X represents the atoms needed to complete a 5 or 6 membered ring, R³ cannot be hydroxyl.

A particularly effective class of 1:1 chrome complexed, yellow axomethine dye developers are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,184 and especially preferred are the 1:1 chrome complexed azomethines of the following general formula: ##STR4## where, m and n are 1 or 2, (alkoxy) has from 1-8 carbon atoms and --alkylene-- has from 1-6 carbon atoms.

1:1 chrome complexed yellow azomethine dyes of the above Formula 4 have excellent performance characteristics in terms of color as well as stability. In fact, a chrome complexed azomethine of Formula 4 which conforms to the following specific formula has enjoyed extensive success in commercial diffusion transfer, photographic film units. ##STR5##

The present invention presents to the art, novel, yellow ortho, ortho' dihydroxy azomethine dyes integrated with a silver halide developing capability. As a class, the novel yellow azomethine dyes of the present invention provide excellent dye developers, especially chrome complexed dye developers having performance characteristics substantially equivalent to and in some respects superior to yellow azomethine dye developers known to the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The novel ortho, ortho' dihydroxy azomethine dye developers of the present invention can be defined by the following formula: ##STR6## where n' is the integer 1-8; m' is the integer 1 or 2 and R⁴ is any substituent which will not impair the yellow absorption characteristics of the dye moiety or affect the functionality of the compound as a dye developer.

As can be seen from Formula 6, the novel yellow ortho, ortho' dihydroxy azomethine dyes of the present invention are actually dye developers that is, the dyes have a silver halide developing substituent as an integral part of the organic dye molecule. This feature of having a silver halide developing capability as an integral part of the dye provides distinct advantages particularly in the formation of metal complexes of the dye developers of Formula 6 with other complexable dyes or ligands and particularly with dyes or ligands also having silver halide developing substituents. For example, metal complexed yellow dye developers of the present invention may be defined by the following general formula: ##STR7## where L, n' and m' are as defined before and x may be a positive or negative charge or zero depending upon the nature of L.

The chrome complexed yellow dye developers of Formula 7 are 1:1 chrome complexes (one dye molecule to one chromium) and they can be used as yellow dye developers in photographic film units. However, particularly preferred 1:1 chrome complexes of the dye developers of Formula 6 are those 1:1 chrome complexes of the dye developers with substantially colorless ligands of the type described before and particularly with ligands which have a silver halide developing substituent. These preferred 1:1 chrome complexes can be defined by the following general formulae: ##STR8## where: L, R, R¹, R², R³, R⁴, n' and m' are as defined before.

Especially preferred 1:1 chrome complexes of a yellow dye developer of Formula 6 are those defined by the following general formula: ##STR9## where --alkylene-- has from 0-6 carbon atoms.

In addition to the 1:1 chrome complexed yellow azomethine dye developers of Formula 6, the dye developers of Formula 6 can also be used to prepare 2:1 chrome complexes (two dye molecules to one chromium) and these 2:1 chrome complexes constitute the especially preferred embodiment of this invention. In accordance with this embodiment, a yellow azomethine dye developer of Formula 6 is chrome complexed with another yellow dye or yellow dye developer and particularly with a yellow dye developer of Formula 6. Accordingly, the most preferred embodiment of this invention presents to the art 2:1 chrome complexes of yellow azomethine dye developers defined by the following general formula: ##STR10## where: M is any cation that does not impair photographic processing of the dye developer and can be among others, H₃ O, a metal ion, or quaternary ammonium salt including onium salts as an integral part of the dye moiety and R⁴, n' and m' are as defined before.

The invention, as well as details relating to the manners for making and using the invention, will be more fully appreciated by the following description of the preferred embodiments taken with FIGS. 1-5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-3 are simplified, schematic views of arrangements of essential elements of preferred film units of the present invention shown after exposure and processing.

FIGS. 4 and 5 graphically depict dye stability data obtained in Examples 9 and 11, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The particularly preferred film units of the present invention are integral negative-positive film units of the type described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,415,644 and 3,647,437.

A representative particularly preferred film unit is shown as 10 (FIG. 1) and includes a light-reflecting layer provided by a light-reflecting pigment in a processing composition initially present in a rupturable processing container (not shown) and distributed after photosensitive layer(s) 14 is photoexposed through transparent support 20 and image-receiving layer 18. Processing compositions used in such film units are aqueous alkaline photographic processing compositions comprising an opacifying system which include a titanium dioxide pigment as the light-reflecting agent, preferably in combination with an optical filter agent described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,647,437. When the processing composition is distributed over photoexposed portions of photosensitive system 14, a light-reflecting layer 16 comprising the titanium dioxide is provided between image-receiving layer 18 and photosensitive layer 14. Application of the processing composition initiates developing of photoexposed photosensitive layer(s) 14 in manners well known to the art to establish an image-wise distribution of diffusible image-providing material which can comprise silver but preferably comprises one or more dye image-providing material. The diffusible image-providing material(s) is transferred through permeable, light-reflecting titanium dioxide-containing layer 16 where it is mordanted, precipitated or otherwise retained in known manner in image-receiving layer 18. The transfer image is viewed through transparent support 20 against light-reflecting layer 16.

FIG. 2 shows an arrangement of essential elements of an integral negative-positive film unit of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,594,165 and British Pat. No. 1,330,524 following exposure and processing. The film unit 10a includes a processing composition initially retained in a rupturable container (not shown) and distributed between cover sheet 22 and photosensitive system or layer 26 after photoexposure of photosensitive element(s) 26 through transparent cover sheet 22. Processing compositions used in such film units are aqueous alkaline photographic processing compositions which include an opacifying system comprising an opaque pigment which need not be--and usually is not--light-reflecting. After distribution of the processing composition between transparent cover sheet 22 and photoexposed photosensitive layer 26, an opaque layer 24 is installed which protects layer 26 from further photoexposure through cover sheet 22. Like the film units of FIG. 1, as and after opaque layer 24 is installed, and processing composition initiates developing of photoexposed photosensitive layer 26 to establish an image-wise distribution of the image-providing materials in manners well known to the art. For example, the processing composition alone may cause development or developing agents may be in the processing composition initially and/or the agents may be in the film unit so that they may be carried to layer 26 by the processing composition. The imagewise distribution is transferred through permeable titanium dioxide containing reflecting layer 28 to dye image layer 30 for viewing through transparent support 32 against the reflecting pigment containing layer 28. Oftentimes an opaque layer (not shown) is positioned between light reflecting layer 28 and photo sensitive layer 26.

The novel yellow dye developers of the present invention also may be utilized in film units designed to be separated after processing, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,983,606. Such a diffusion transfer film unit of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3 as 10b. The film unit shown there comprises a photosensitive element having an opaque support 40 carrying a photosensitive system containing layer(s) 42. In film units of this type the photosensitive element is photoexposed and a processing composition 44 is then distributed over the photoexposed system. During processing an image-receiving element comprising dye image layer 46 carried by support 50--preferably opaque--is superposed on the photoexposed photosensitive element. Like the film units of FIGS. 1 and 2, the processing composition permeates layer(s) 42 to provide an imagewise distribution of diffusible dye image-providing materials which is transferred to dye image layer 46. Unlike the film units of FIGS. 1 and 2, however, the transferred dye image is viewed in layer 46 against light-reflecting background 48 after separation of the image-receiving element from the photosensitive element.

THE PREFERRED YELLOW DYE DEVELOPERS

Representative preferred yellow dye developers of this invention are dye developers of the following formulae or chrome complexes thereof: ##STR11## The novel, yellow, ortho, ortho' dihydroxy azomethine dye developers of this invention can be prepared according to the following general reaction scheme: ##STR12## where each R⁵ can be hydrogen but may be a protective group, preferably a carbomethoxy or a carbethoxy protective group which is later removed by hydrolysis to provide the dihydroxyphenyl silver halide developing substituent.

The di-OR⁵ substituted orthohydroxy benzaldehydes of Formula 17 can be prepared by the reaction of a tosylate, e.g., Formula 20 with a metal bis(resorcaldehyde) according to the following general reaction scheme. ##STR13##

The tosylates of Formula 20 can be prepared by the reaction of a di-OR⁵ substituted phenyl alkanol with p-toluene sulfonyl chloride (tosyl chloride) according to the following general reaction scheme: ##STR14##

The metal bis(resorcaldehyde) of Formula 21 can be prepared by the reaction of a dihydroxybenzaldehyde with a metal (preferably copper) acetate monohydrate according to the following general reaction scheme: ##STR15##

Details relating to the synthesis involved in the preparation of the novel, yellow ortho, ortho' dihydroxyazomethine dye developers of the invention and the 1:1 and 2:1 chrome complexes of the dye developers will be better appreciated by reference to the following illustrative examples.

EXAMPLE 1.

This example illustrates a preparation of a compound of Formula 22 and particularly relates to a preparation of a 3-(2', 5' dicarbomethoxyphenyl) propanol (Formula 26). The illustrative preparation involves the following reaction scheme: ##STR16##

A nitrogen atmosphere was maintained by slowly flowing N₂ through a 2 liter, three neck flask while 68.08 gms dicarbomethoxyphenyl propionic acid (Formula 24) (0.2087 M) was added to 543 mls of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran. The dicarbomethoxyphenyl propionic acid dissolved readily and the solution was slowly stirred at 20°-25° C. While maintaining a slow flow of N₂ and maintaining the solution at a temperature of about 21° C., 18.40 gms (0.23 M) of borane methyl sulfide was added slowly over 1/2 hour with good stirring.

The slow flow of N₂ was continued while the mixture was stirred for 41/2-5 hours at about 21° C. Then, 315 mls of methanol were added slowly with stirring to convert any excess borane to volatile borates.

The mixture was then filtered and volatiles were stripped off on a rotary evaporator using high vacuum and a hot water bath. The yield was 64.5 gms. of a clear yellow viscous liquid which eventually crystallized to a white solid soluble in CHCl₃ and methanol. The yield obtained was 98.7% of theoretical.

EXAMPLE 2.

This example illustrates a preparation of a compound of Formula 22 and particularly a preparation of the compound of Formula 25 (Example 1). The illustrative preparation involves the following reaction scheme: ##STR17##

Step 1.

The following ingredients were placed in a 5 liter 3 neck flask:

2,5 dimethoxy benzaldehyde--447 grams

malonic acid--559 grams

pyridine--1080 grams

The mixture was heated to 50° C. to obtain solution; then 40 mls. of piperdine were added and the reaction mixture heated at 80°-85° C. for 2 hours followed by refluxing for an additional 3 hours. The solution was cooled (overnight), poured into 11 liters of H₂ O and acidified slowly with 1 liter conc. HCl. to provide the product dimethoxy cinnamic acid which was filtered and washed with water.

Step 2.

The following ingredients were placed in a 2 liter Paar bottle:

dimethoxy cinnamic acid--200 grams

isopropyl alcohol--1100 mls.

Pd/BaSO₄ (5%)--10 grams

The hydrogenation of the dimethoxy cinnamic acid was carried out to theoretical uptake. The catalyst (Pd/BaSO₄) was filtered and the solution was treated with activated charcoal and then stripped to dryness to recover the dimethoxy hydrocinnamic acid.

Step 3.

5.3 kgs. of 2,5-dimethoxyhydrocinnamic acid were dissolved in 5 liters 48% HBr solution. The reaction mixture was brought to reflux to distill off all the low boiling material up to 120° C. Refluxing was continued for about 3 hours. After cooling the mixture to room temperature, the precipitate was filtered off and washed well with water.

Step 4.

A solution of 730 gms. NaOH in 12.5 liters H₂ O was deaerated and kept under a blanket of nitrogen; then, 750 gms. of the lactone formed in Step 3 were added to it. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours and then cooled to 10° C. 2.0 kgms. methyl chloroformate were added at a slow enough rate to maintain the temperature at 10° C. The reaction mixture was stirred for an additional 1/2 hour and acidified to pH 2.0 with 1.8 liter 10% HCl solution. The water was decanted from the oil which formed, the oil was allowed to solidify slowly (overnight) to provide a crude yield of decarbomethoxyphenyl propionic acid.

The crude yield of dicarbomethoxyphenyl propionic acid was purified by dissolving 200 gms. of the product of Step 4 in 2 liters of ligroin. The solution was heated to 80° C. and 1 liter benzene was added to dissolve the crude while the temperature was maintained at 80C. The solution was treated with activated charcoal and filtered hot. On cooling, the pure product precipitated out. (Some oil formed at first but solidified on standing.) The product was then filtered and washed with hexane.

EXAMPLE 3.

This example illustrates a preparation of a compound of Formula 20 and particularly relates to preparation of 3-(2',5'-dicarbomethoxyphenyl) propyl-p-tosylate. The illustrated preparation involves the following reaction scheme. ##STR18##

67.5 gms. of the dicarbomethoxyphenyl propionic alcohol (Formula 25) were dissolved at room temperature in 1220 mls. of pyridine in a 2 liter flask. The solution was then cooled to 0° C. While stirring the solution and maintaining the temperature at about 0° C., 82.5 gms. of p-toluenesulfonyl chloride were added as a solid, portion wise. After the addition, the mixture--tightly sealed to keep dry--was kept overnight in a refrigerator at 3° C.

The reaction mixture was then precipitated by adding the mixture to a well stirred cold dilute aqueous HCl solution (7,800 mls, ice cold distilled water plus 1,520 mls conc. HCl.) and continuing the stirring for 11/2 to 2 hours. The precipitate was oily at first but gradually became solid with stirring and trituration. The water was decanted, cold dilute HCl added again and stirring and trituration continued for another 11/2 to 2 hours. A white solid was filtered off, washed with water and air dried overnight at room temperature. (The product should never be heated above room temperature.) Product yield was 100.7 gms. of white solid, m.p. 75°-76° C. and soluble in methylene chloride. The product should be stored at temperatures of 3° C. or lower.

    ______________________________________                                         Properties                                                                     of                                                                             Compound:                                                                               Mol.Wt.: 466.49                                                                              Mol. Formula: SO.sub.9 C.sub.22 H.sub.26                m.p.     Color and State:                                                                             Solv.:                                                  75°-75.5° C.                                                              White Solid   Methylene Chloride, CHCl.sub.3                          ______________________________________                                    

Elemental Analysis: Found: 56.86%C; 5.72%H; 6.71%S; Theory: 56.64%C, 5.62%H; 6.87%S.

EXAMPLE 4.

This example illustrates a preparation of a compound of Formula 21 and particularly the preparation of cupric bis(resorcaldehyde). The illustrated preparation involved the following reaction scheme: ##STR19##

19.97 gms (0.1 M) of cupric acetate monohydrate were dissolved in a room temperature solution of 50% aqueous methanol and the solution was gravity filtered to remove trace insolubles.

27.62 gms (0.2 M) of 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde were dissolved in 50% aqueous methanol warmed slightly on a steam bath; the solution was then cooled to room temperature.

The 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde solution was added to the well stirred solution of cupric acetate monohydrate and a green solid product precipitated almost immediately, but stirring was continued at room temperature for about one hour.

The product was filtered, washed several times with water; then several times with methanol and finally, several times with ether. The product was dried for one hour at 60° C. and 31.06 gms of a light green solid were obtained (91.96% theoretical yield).

EXAMPLE 5.

This example illustrates a preparation of a compound of Formula 17 and particularly a preparation of a 2 hydroxy-4-[3'(2",5"-dicarbomethoxyphenyl)-n-propoxy] benzaldehyde. The illustrated preparation involves the following reaction scheme: ##STR20##

16.90 gms. of cupric bis(resorcaldehyde) (Formula 27) were dissolved in 170 mls. hexamethyl phosphoric triamide in a 1 liter flask having N₂ flowing slowly throughout. At room temperature with a N₂ flow, 4.11 gms of a 57% NaH/oil mixture were added carefully with good stirring; there is a slight exotherm and some foaming due to H₂ evolution. Stirring was continued for 21/2 hours at which time a dark green solution was obtained. 43.84 gms of 3-(dicarbomethoxyphenyl-)-propyl-p-tosylate (Formula 26) dissolved in 180 mls. hexamethylphosphoric triamide were added to the green solution and the resulting solution was stirred overnight at room temperature and under a N₂ flow.

The product was precipitated in 10 volumes cold, dilute aqueous HCl solution and then extracted from the oily mixture by shaking it three times with ether. The final ether solution was shaken with aqueous Na₂ CO₃ and then with water. The product was then dried with anhydrous MgSO₄. 33.40 gms of product was obtained as a viscous yellow-tan semi-solid. (82.60% of theoretical yield).

EXAMPLE 6.

This example illustrates the preparation of a compound of Formula 19 and particularly illustrates the preparation of a compound of the following formula: ##STR21##

The illustrated preparation involves the following reaction scheme: ##STR22##

In a 500 ml flask with a magnetic stirrer, reflux condenser and drying tube, 25.37 gms of 2 hydroxy-4-[3' (2",5" dicarbomethoxyphenyl)-n-propyl] benzaldehyde were dissolved in 102 mls refluxing methanol. 9.67 gms of 4-nitro-2-aminophenol dissolved in 39 mls of hot methanol were added to the benzaldehyde solution. In less than a minute, a very heavy yellow precipitate came out of solution. Stirring and refluxing were continued for 2 hours.

The mixture was cooled to about 0° C. and the yellow solid product filtered off and dried to constant weight giving 20.18 gms of yellow-orange product. (59.5% theoretical yield).

    ______________________________________                                         Properties of                                                                  Compound: Color & State:                                                                             Soly.:                                                             Yellow-Orange                                                                              DMF; DMSO; Warm THF;                                               solid       Warm Dioxane.                                            ______________________________________                                    

    ______________________________________                                         UV. Visible:                                                                   Solvent     λ max   460 nm                                              DMF         ε max 26,400                                               ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 7.

This example illustrates a preparation of a 2:1 chrome complex of the product of Example 6. The illustrated preparation involves the following reaction scheme: ##STR23##

19.77 gms of the compound of Formula 30, 9.04 gms of (CH₃ COO)₃ Cr H₂ O, 181 mls methyl cellosolve and 11.11 gms of triethylamine were added to a 3 neck flask having a magnetic stirrer and reflux condenser with drying tube. The mixture was stirred and heated at 95° to 100° C. for 13/4 hours until a solution was obtained. The solution was then refluxed for 15 to 20 minutes.

The reaction solution was precipitated by stirring the solution in 2 liters of cold dilute aqueous HCl solution. The yellow solid product was filtered off and washed several times with distilled water. Yield of product was 18.78 gms of a tan solid (89.5% theoretical yield).

    ______________________________________                                         Properties of                                                                  Compound   Color & State:                                                                               Soly.:                                                           Tan-solid     Methyl Cellosolve,                                                             DMF, DMSO                                             ______________________________________                                    

    ______________________________________                                         UV, Visible:                                                                               λ max   445 nm                                              Solvent     ε max 41,500                                               ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 8.

This example illustrates a procedure for converting the dicarbomethoxy groups of the 2:1 chrome complex of Example 7 to dihydroxy groups to provide the 2:1 chrome complexed yellow azomethine dye developer of the following formula: ##STR24##

The illustrated procedure involves the following reaction scheme: ##STR25##

18.00 gms of the 2:1 chrome complexed dye of Formula 30 were dissolved in 200 mls methyl cellosolve at room temperature. N₂ was bubbled into the solution to deaerate it. Then with N₂ slowly passing over the solution, 250 mls of a 5% (aqueous) NaOH solution, also deaerated, was gradually added with good stirring. There is a very mild exotherm. The solution was stirred under slow N₂ flow for 45 minutes plus 15 minutes while it was cooled down to about 5° C. 500 mls of cold 10% (aqueous) HCl solution (also deaerated) was added slowly to the well stirred cold reaction solution and the yellow tan solid product precipitated out. The product was filtered off, washed several times with distilled water and dried to constant weight. Product yield was 14.79 gms of tan solid.

Properties of

    ______________________________________                                         Properties of                                                                  Compound: MOL.WT.: 915.79                                                                             MOL.FORMULA:                                                                   CrN.sub.4 O.sub.15 C.sub.44 H.sub.39                              Color & State:                                                                 Tan Solid    Soly.: Methyl                                                                  Cellosolve; CMF;                                        UV, Visible:           DMSO; dilute                                            PANo. 20,362                                                                             = 445        aqueous alkali                                                    = 38,000                                                             Solvent                                                                        Methyl                                                                         Cellosolve                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

Elemental Analysis: Found: 55.68%C; 4.54%H; 5.73%N; 5.51%Cr 10.45%ASH;

Product + 2H₂ O Of Theory: 55.52; 4.55; 5.89; 5.46.

Hydration

Example 9 which follows presents a comparison of the performance characteristics of the particularly preferred 2:1 chrome complexed yellow dye developer of this invention (the 2:1 chrome complexed yellow dye developer of Formula 32) and a 1:1 chrome complexed yellow dye developer extensively used in commercial film units (the 1:1 chrome complexed dye developer of Formula 5). The comparison involved diffusion transfer film units having multicolor photosensitive elements which contained the following cyan and magenta dye developers: ##STR26##

Also, except for variations in the yellow dye developer layer which are explained in Example 9, the photosensitive elements of the film units of Example 9 were prepared by coating a gelatin-subcoated, 4 mil, opaque polyethylene terephthalate film base with the following layers:

1. a layer of cyan dye developer and 2-phenylbenzimidazole (antifoggant) dispersed in gelatin and coated at a coverage of about 58 mgs./ft.² dye, about 22 mgss/ft.² of 2-phenyl benzimidazole and about 112 mgs./ft.² of gelatin;

2. a red-sensitive gelatino silver iodobromide emulsion coated at a coverage of about 80 mgs./ft.² of silver and about 104 mgs./ft.₂ of gelatin;

3. a layer of a 60-30-4-6 tetrapolymer of butylacrylate, diacetone acrylamide, styrene and methacrylic acid and polyacrylamide coated at a coverage of about 428 mgs./ft.² of the copolymer and about 23 mgs./ft.² of polyacrylamide;

4. a layer of magenta dye developer and 2-phenyl benzimidazole dispersed in gelatin and coated at a coverage of about 60 mgs./ft.² of dye, about 21 mgs./ft.² of 2-phenyl benzimidazole and about 40 mgs./ft.² of gelatin;

5. a green-sensitive gelatino silver iodobromide emulsion coated at a coverage of about 30 mgs./ft.² of silver and about 43 mgs./ft.² of gelatin;

6. a layer containing the tetrapolymer referred to above in layer 3 and polyacrylamide coated at a coverage of about 230 mgs./ft.² of copolymer and about 20 mgs./ft.² of polyacrylamide;

7. a layer of a yellow dye developer and 2-phenyl benzimidazole dispersed in gelatin and coated at the coverage specified in Example 9.

8. a blue-sensitive gelatino silver iodobromide e emulsion layer coated at a coverage of about 110 mgs./ft.² of silver and about 52 mgs./ft.² of gelatin and

9. a layer of carbon black dispersed in gelatin coated at a coverage to provide about 4 mgs./ft.² of carbon black and about 40 mgs./ft.² of gelatin.

The image-receiving elements of the film units of Example 9 were prepared by coating a transparent 4 mil polyethylene terephthalate film base with the following layers:

1. as a polymeric acid layer, the partial butyl ester of polyethylene/maleic anhydride copolymer at a coverage of about 2,500 mgs./ft.² ;

2. a timing layer containing about 40:1 ratio of a 60-30-4-6 tetra copolymer of butylacrylate, diacetone acrylamide, styrene and methacrylic acid and polyvinyl alcohol at a coverage of about 500 mgs./ft.² ; and

3. a polymeric image-receiving layer containing a 2:1 mixture, by weight, of polyvinyl alcohol and poly-4-vinylpyridine, at a coverage of about 300 mgs./ft.².

The so prepared image-receiving and photosensitive elements can be taped together with opaque tape extending around the edges to provide an integral film unit. A rupturable container retaining an aqueous alkaline processing solution was mounted in a fixed position on the leading edge of each of the elements, by pressure-sensitive tapes, so that, pressure applied to the container would rupture the container's marginal seal and its contents could be distributed between the image-receiving layer and the gelatin overcoat layer of the photosensitive element.

In each of the film units of Example 9, the aqueous alkaline processing composition comprised:

    __________________________________________________________________________     Water                               1918 cc                                    Potassium hydroxide (85%)           509 g.                                     N-phenethyl-α-picolinium                                                 bromide (50% solution in water)     110.4 g.                                   Carboxymethyl cellulose                                                        (Hercules Type 7H4F providing                                                  a viscosity of 3,000 cps. at                                                   1% in water at 25° C.) 95% solids 80.3 g.                               Titanium dioxide                    1842 g.                                    6-methyl uracil                     9.3 g.                                     bis-(β-aminoethyl)-sulfide     1.4 g.                                     Lithium nitrate                     4.8 g.                                     Benzotriazole                       34.6 g.                                    Colloidal silica aqueous                                                       dispersion (30% SiO.sub.2)          77.6 g.                                    N-2-hydroxyethyl-N,N',N'-tris                                                  carboxymethyl-ethylene diamine      36.4 g.                                    Polyethylene glycol                                                            (molecular weight 6,000)            22.7 g.                                    4-amino pyrazolo pyrimidine         11.3 g.                                     ##STR27##                          93.4 g.                                     ##STR28##                          20.8 g.                                    __________________________________________________________________________

The photosensitive element of such prepared integral film units may be exposed through the transparent support of the image-receiving element, and a layer of the processing composition may be distributed by passing the film unit between a pair of pressure-applying rolls.

EXAMPLE 9

This example presents a comparison of dye stability measurements for two film units, one containing a 1:1 chrome complexed yellow dye developer of the prior art and the other containing a 2:1 chrome complexed yellow dye developer of this invention. FIG. 4 graphically depicts the dye stability measurements. The two film units had multicolor photosensitive elements prepared as described before and were substantially identical except for the yellow dye developer layers. In the film unit designated as 2069-140 of FIG. 4, the yellow dye containing layer contained the 2:1 chrome complexed yellow dye developer of Formula 31 and 2-phenyl benzimidazole dispersed in gelatin at a coverage of about 46 mgs./ft.² yellow dye developer, about 19.6 mgs./ft.² of 2-phenyl benzimidazole and about 18.1 mgs. gelatin. The film unit designated as 2069-130 of FIG. 4 had a yellow dye developer containing layer which contained the 1:1 chrome complexed yellow dye developer of Formula 5, 2-phenyl benzimidazole and gelatin at a coverage of about 67 mgs./ft.² yellow dye developer, about 18 mgs./ft.² phenyl benzimidazole and about 33 mgs./ft.² gelatin. It will be noted that the coverages of yellow dye developers in each film unit are different (46 mgs./ft.² v. 67 mgs./ft.²). This difference, however, was intended and is based on considerations involving such factors as the extinction coefficient, the molecular weight and the molecular structure of each dye developer to estimate coverages for each dye developer which can provide approximately equivalent yellow optical densities for each exposed and processed film unit.

The film units were exposed to two meter candle seconds through a yellow filter and processed by passing each film unit between a pair of pressure-applying rolls to thereby distribute a layer of processing composition about 0.0028" thick between the image-receiving layer and the gelatin/carbon black overcoat of the photosensitive element. Under such exposure conditions only yellow dye was transferred to the image-receiving layer and both processed film units had comparable yellow colored images.

The processed film units were maintained at room temperature for twenty-four hours and then the dye stability of each unit was determined by exposing each unit to the condition of a Xenon Arc Weatherometer over a period of 40 days and periodically measuring the percent yellow dye retained for each unit. During this forty day period, the light output for the Weatherometer ranged between 7000 to 9000 foot candles. FIG. 4 graphically depicts the data obtained over the forty day period and the data shows improved stability performance characteristics for the 2:1 chrome complexed yellow dye developer of this invention.

EXAMPLE 10.

This example illustrates a preparation of a 1:1 chrome complex azo methine yellow dye developer of the present invention. The illustrated preparation involves the following reaction schemes: ##STR29##

Step 1.

The following ingredients were added to a 2-liter, 3-neck, round bottom flask having a vertical reflux condenser and a N₂ inlet and outlet:

Cr Cl₃.6H₂ O--25.03 gms.

Dimethyl formamide (anhydrous)--409 mls.

Benzene (anhydrous)--588 mls.

The solution was refluxed with stirring to azeotrope out water with benzene (13.8 mls. H₂ O collected) and then all benzene was distilled off.

26.7 gms. of the compound of Formula 33 were added to the anhydrous Cr Cl₃ /dimethyl formamide solution, and the mixture was refluxed for 45 minutes.

The reaction solution was cooled and precipitated into 6,700 mls. distilled water and stirred for about 20 minutes. The precipitate was filtered and washed twice on the funnel with room-temperature, distilled water. After air-drying overnight, the precipitate was placed in an oven heated to 67° C. for 15 minutes and then placed in a vacuum oven heated to 52° C.; a high vacuum was pulled for about 21/2 hours. Yield of product (Formula 34) was 20.71 gms. of a yellow-tan powder (69.12% theoretical).

Step 2.

A round-bottom, 250 ml. flask having a magnetic stirrer, a vertical reflux condenser and a N₂ inlet and outlet was flushed with dry N₂ while heated at 75° to 80° C. The following ingredients were then added:

Compound of Formula 34--7.00 gms.

Compound of Formula 35 (98% pure)--2.80 gms.

Ir-45 amberlite Ion Exchange Resin--0.58 gms.

Methyl cellosolve--90 mls.

The reaction mixture was stirred at 75°-80° C. for a total of 10 hours. The ion exchange resin (insoluble) was filtered off, and the solution was sealed under N₂ overnight at room temperature. The product was precipitated by adding the solution (slowly) to 1,800 mls. distilled water at room temperature with good stirring. A fine yellow precipitate was filtered off, stirred well in 500 mls. distilled water and filtered again. The product was placed in a vacuum oven heated to 55° C. (with drierite present) and a high vacuum was pulled on the oven for about 31/2 hours. Yield of product (Formula 36) was 8.58 gms. of yellow powder (88.50 theoretical).

Step 3.

The following ingredients were added to a 1-liter, 3-neck, round-bottom flask having a magnetic stirrer, N₂ inlet and outlet and dropping funnel:

Compound of formula 36--8.30 gms.

Methyl cellosolve--80 mls.

N₂ was bubbled through the solution to deaerate it, and the system was flushed with N₂. A solution containing 15.02 gms. Na OH in 142 mls. H₂ O was placed in the dropping funnel and deaerated. While stirring the solution in the flask and with an N₂ flow through the flask, the Na OH solution was added slowly (a slight exotherm was noted). The contents of the flask were stirred at room temperature for about 55 minutes.

The flask was then cooled in an ice bath; and, while stirring and with an N₂ flow, a cold deaerated solution of 31.05 mls. concentrated HCl in 280 mls. H₂ O was added (slowly). The product precipitated out as a tan solid which was filtered off and air-dried.

After drying, the product--now a tan-yellow solid--was stirred in 150 mls. distilled water, filtered and placed in a vacuum oven (drierite was present) for 5 hours. The vacuum oven was heated to a temperature of 48°-50° C., and a high vacuum was pulled on the oven. Yield of yellow powder (Formula 37) was 6.87 gms. (98.91% theoretical).

    ______________________________________                                         Properties of                                                                  Compound:   Color & State:                                                                               Soly.:                                               ______________________________________                                                   Yellow-tan  Methanol, DMF                                                      Solid powder                                                                               Methyl cellosolve                                        ______________________________________                                    

    ______________________________________                                         U.V. Visible:                                                                  ______________________________________                                         Solvent           λ                                                                              max       443                                         Methyl cellosolve Σ                                                                               max     18,400                                        ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 11.

This example presents a comparison of the light stability characteristics of the 1:1 chrome complexed yellow dye developer of Example 10 and the 1:1 chrome complexed yellow dye developer of Formula 5. This comparison involves diffusion transfer monochrome film units which had substantially the same image receiving elements, the same processing compositions and the same photosensitive elements--except for the yellow dye developer used. The film unit designated as 22-092 in FIG. 5 had a yellow dye developer layer comprising the dye developer of Example 10 dispersed in gelatin and coated at a coverage of about 40 mgms/ft² dye developer and about 210 mgms/ft² gelatin. Film unit 15-232 of FIG. 5 had a yellow dye developer layer comprising the dye developer of Formula 5 dispersed in gelatin and coated at a coverage of about 40 mgms/ft² and about 210 mgms/ft² gelatin.

The film units were exposed to two meter candle seconds through a yellow filter and processed by passing each film between pressure-applying members to distribute a layer of processing composition about 0.0022" thick between the image-receiving element and the photosensitive element. Both processed film units had comparable yellow color. Dye stability measurements were made as described in Example 9 except that each film unit was dried for three days at 120° F. before being placed in the arc. FIG. 5 graphically depicts the data obtained over a forty-seven day period and the data indicates that the dye developer of Example 10 had substantially better stability performance characteristics than the dye developer of Formula 5.

From the above description, it should be apparent that the present invention presents to the art novel yellow dye developers having a desirable degree of performance characteristics in terms of color as well as stability. Accordingly, many modifications can be made in details of the above examples offered for the purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention defined in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A photographic film unit which comprises a photosensitive system including a silver halide emulsion layer associated with a 1:1 chrome complex dye developer which is represented by the formula: ##STR30## where L represents molecules that can satisfy the coordination sphere of chromium, --alkylene-- has 0 to 6 carbon atoms, n' is an integer of from 1 to 8 and m' is 1 or
 2. 2. A film unit of claim 1 where said 1:1 chrome complex is of the formula: ##STR31##
 3. A photographic film unit which comprises a photosensitive system including a silver halide emulsion layer associated with a 2:1 chrome complex dye developer which is represented by the formula: ##STR32## where M is a cation, n' is an integer of from 1 to 8 and m' is 1 or
 2. 4. A film unit of claim 3 where said 2:1 chrome complex is of the formula: ##STR33##
 5. A diffusion transfer film unit which comprises: a photosensitive element including a support carrying a photosensitive system comprising a silver halide emulsion layer associated with a 1:1 chrome complex dye developer which is represented by the formula: ##STR34## where L represents molecules that can satisfy the coordination sphere of chromium, --alkylene-- has from 0-6 carbon atoms, n' is an integer of from 1 to 8 and m' is 1 or 2;an image receiving element which can be superposed on said photosensitive element after photoexposure and which includes a support and a dye image receiving layer; and means retaining a diffusion transfer aqueous alkaline processing composition integrated with said elements so that said processing composition can be distributed between the superposed elements after photoexposure of the photosensitive element.
 6. A film unit of claim 5 where said 1:1 chrome complex is of the formula: ##STR35##
 7. A diffusion transfer film unit which comprises: a photosensitive element including a support carrying a photosensitive system comprising a silver halide emulsion layer associated with a 2:1 chrome complex dye developer which is represented by the formula: ##STR36## where M is a cation, n' is an integer of from 1 to 8 and m' is 1 or 2; an image receiving element which can be superposed on said photosensitive element after photoexposure and which includes a support and a dye image receiving layer; andmeans for retaining a diffusion transfer aqueous alkaline processing composition integrated with said elements so that said processing composition can be distributed between the superposed elements after photoexposure of the photosensitive element.
 8. A film unit of claim 7 where said 2:1 chrome complex is of the formula: ##STR37##
 9. An integral negative-positive film unit which comprises: a first sheet-like element comprising an opaque support carrying a plurality of layers including a photosensitive system which comprises at least one silver halide emulsion layer associated with a 1:1 chrome complex dye developer which is represented by the formula: ##STR38## where L represents molecules that can satisfy the coordination sphere of chromium, alkylene has from 0 to 6 carbon atoms, n' is an integer of from 1 to 8 and m' is 1 or 2;a second sheet-like element comprising a transparent support carrying a dye image-receiving layer; a rupturable container releasably holding an aqueous alkaline, opaque processing composition including a light reflecting pigment; said first and second sheet-like elements being held in superposed, fixed relationship, with said supports outermost, during photoexposure and processing, said silver halide emulsion layer(s) being exposable through said transparent support; said rupturable container being positioned transverse one end of said film unit so as to release said processing composition for distribution between said sheet-like elements after photoexposure to provide a light-reflecting layer against which a color transfer image formed in said image-receiving layer may be viewed through said transparent support without separation of said superposed first and second sheet-like elements.
 10. A film unit of claim 9 where said 1:1 chrome complex is of the formula: ##STR39##
 11. An integral negative-positive film unit which comprises: a first sheet-like element comprising an opaque support carrying a plurality of layers including a photosensitive system which comprises at least one silver halide emulsion layer associated with a 2:1 chrome complex dye developer which is represented by the formula: ##STR40## where M is a cation, n' is an integer of from 1 to 8 and m' is 1 or 2; a second sheet-like element comprising a transparent support carrying a dye image-receiving layer;a rupturable container releasably holding an aqueous alkaline, opaque processing composition including a light reflecting pigment; said first and second sheet-like elements being held in superposed, fixed relationship, with said supports outermost, during photoexposure and processing, said silver halide emulsion layer(s) being exposable through said transparent support; said rupturable container being positioned transverse one end of said film unit so as to release said processing composition for distribution between said sheet-like elements after photoexposure to provide a light-reflecting layer against which a color transfer image formed in said image-receiving layer may be viewed through said transparent support without separation of said superposed first and second sheet-like elements.
 12. A film unit of claim 11 where said 2:1 chrome complex is of the formula: ##STR41##
 13. A film unit of claim 11 where said opaque processing composition includes at least one optical filter agent which is colored at a pH above the pKa of the filter agent, the concentration of filter agent being effective in combination with said light-reflecting pigment to provide a layer exhibiting optical transmission density of at least about 6.0 density units with respect to incident light actinic to the silver halide emulsion layer and said film unit comprises means for reducing the pH of the unit below the pKa of the optical filter agent so that said agent is substantially colorless after substantial formation of said color image in said image-receiving layer.
 14. An integral negative-positive film unit which comprises:a first sheet-like element comprising a first transparent support; a second sheet-like element comprising a second transparent support carrying, in sequence, a dye image-receiving layer, a light-reflecting layer comprising a pigment and at least one silver halide emulsion layer associated with a 1:1 chrome complex dye developer which is represented by the formula: ##STR42## where L represents molecules that can satisfy the coordination sphere of chromium, alkylene has from 0 to 6 carbon atoms, n' is an integer of from 1 to 8 and m' is 1 or 2; a rupturable container releasably holding an aqueous, alkaline opaque processing composition; said first and second sheet-like elements being held in superposed, fixed relationship, with said supports outermost, during photoexposure and processing, said silver halide emulsion layer(s) being exposable through said first transparent support; said rupturable container being positioned transverse one end of said film unit so as to release said processing composition for distribution between said first sheet-like element and the photosensitive system.
 15. A film unit of claim 14 where said 1:1 chrome complex is of the formula: ##STR43##
 16. An integral negative-positive film unit which comprises:a first sheet-like element comprising a first transparent support; a second sheet-like element comprising a second transparent support carrying, in sequence, a dye image-receiving layer, a light-reflecting layer comprising a pigment and at least one silver halide emulsion layer associated with a 2:1 chrome complex dye developer which is represented by the formula: ##STR44## where M is a cation, n' is an integer of from 1 to 8 and m' is 1 or 2; a rupturable container releasably holding an aqueous, alkaline opaque processing composition; said first and second sheet-like elements being held in superposed, fixed relationship, with said supports outermost, during photoexposure and processing, said silver halide emulsion layer(s) being exposable through said first transparent support; said rupturable container being positioned transverse one end of said film unit so as to release said processing composition for distribution between said first sheet-like element and the photosensitive system,
 17. A film unit of claim 16 where said 2:1 chrome complex is of the formula: ##STR45## 